DIRECTOR
Damon Gameau
2040, That Sugar Film

The eight child members who comprise the titular Future Council are precisely what our world needs right now, as introduced in Damon Gameau’s third feature-length documentary, which also utterly deserves to be seen now.

There is a lot to be inspired and uplifted by watching Future Council, but one piece of detail I am most heartened by is the story behind its inception, which is something viewers are not privy to throughout this documentary. Australian documentary filmmaker Damon Gameau’s previous feature, the excellent 2040, also about our environment and the effects of climate change, was shown to students in classrooms all over the world. Because kids nowadays are exposed to more information than all previous generations, it became abundantly clear to Damon that children know more about sustainability than adults do! Furthermore, they have the passion, drive and creativity to proactively and innovatively do something useful with their acquired knowledge. Their blocker is the lack of ways to take their ideas and aspirations beyond the classroom walls. And thus, Future Council was born.

These eight extraordinary kids swap classrooms for boardrooms as Damon escorts them throughout Europe on board a biofuel bus, providing them the opportunity to meet with CEOs and Heads of some of the world’s largest global companies and polluters. They come equipped with a wealth of knowledge many easily underestimate, confronting questions few expect to hear and offering practical problem-solving that is sure to teach every adult something!

When I mentioned there is a lot to be inspired and uplifted by, one of Future Council’s core characteristics immediately come to mind: its surprising, yet welcome and very pleasing sense of humour dispersed widely throughout. This characteristic is not typically expected in an otherwise grim subject, but it is essential here and has been perfectly identified and incorporated all throughout by Damon Gameau. The skill to bring and infuse an element of humour is what turns the type of one-dimensional messaging and off-putting doom and gloom from the likes of Greta Thunberg to something far more inviting, digestible and even inspiring. Much of the humour in Future Council comes intrinsically through interactions shared between its eight members and with their bus driving filmmaker.

Importantly though, their objective is never out of sight and their determination to make the most of this incredible opportunity is never taken for granted. When it is time for diplomatic discussion, or not so diplomatic even, these kids (feels like an insult to refer to them as children really!) are more than up to the challenge and are seriously, seriously super impressive! Their individuality and quirks are extremely endearing too. Whether it be Skye from Wales who is so candid with her conversation and cares so deeply or Hiva from Norfolk Island and his adorable adoration of birds, these kids are not going to be forgotten by viewers after the conclusion of this compact and marvellously written and presented documentary. If even some of these kids really are our future leaders, then the future, if it isn’t too late by then, looks far less bleak than it currently is. 

Highly recommended.

Future Council is showing in selected cinemas across Australia from August 7th, 2025.

Moviedoc thanks Madman for the invitation to the screening of this film. Moviedoc would also like to thank each of the eight members of Future Council for being so brave and inspiring him to be more mindful and determined to implement changes in his own life 🙂

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc

LIKE on Facebook – @moviedoc13 / Follow on Instagram – moviedoc_melbourne